Autistic Children Don't Seem to Yawn 'Contagiously'

Children with an autism spectrum disorder tend not to yawn “contagiously” — that is, yawn in response to seeing others yawn, a new study suggests.

Yawning is a type of “emotional contagion,” an unconscious response that reflects a recognition of how others are feeling. And unconsciously mimicking the behavior of parents and others is an important step in a child’s social and emotional development, said study lead author Molly Helt, a doctoral candidate at the University of Connecticut.

Autistic children’s lack of imitation puts them at a disadvantage when it comes to learning empathy and other social skills, Helt said. For example, prior research has shown that when people see others smile, they subtly smile as well. The movement of the facial muscles kicks a feedback mechanism into gear, lifting mood.

“‘Emotional contagion’ means I get to experience a little bit of the emotion you experience,” Helt said. “That gives rise to intuition, empathy and good social skills. The fact that autistic children are not yawning is a signal those basic social bonds that are forming in infants and children are not forming in children with autism.”

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About The Author

Julia Roberts

Julia Roberts is founder of Support for Special Needs and has been a regular contributor since its inception in May 2010. A mom to two kids with special needs, she didn't want other parents to feel what is the often isolating world of raising a child (or two!) with disabilities. Her kids had kidney transplants at the age of eight and will need liver transplants in the future as a result of ARPKD/CHF. They both have vision disorders and learning disabilities.